Economic Watch: Cuba starts countdown to tourist peak season

 Cuban taxi driver Pedro Alejandro Abreu expects more international tourists to arrive at the island with the start of the upcoming tourist peak season, which runs from October to March.

The 45-year-old, who lives in the Havana district of Playa, delivers passengers from the city's Jose Marti International Airport to different tourist destinations across the country.

Abreu told Xinhua that the recovery of the tourism industry was not only essential for the island's economy but also for his earnings as well.

"The more tourists visit Cuba, the better the Cuban economy will perform," he said, deeming tourism vital for his government to acquire different products in the international market.

Cuba's tourism industry is gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, which dealt a big blow to an economy already reeling from U.S. economic sanctions.

Portuguese tourist Rosario Guimaraes, who traveled to the island with her husband and 4-year-old daughter, told Xinhua that visiting Cuba has been special even if they had visited other Caribbean destinations already.

"There are beautiful beaches in Cuba, but I was looking for a different experience and I found it," she said. "I like people and the quality of food."

Meanwhile, Spanish tourist Rodrigo Baez, who visited Havana with his girlfriend, told Xinhua that he was very interested in learning about the architecture of the Cuban capital.

"The architecture of Havana is interconnected to that of Madrid in so many ways. Cuban patrimonial sites are fascinating," he said. "In the coming days, we are heading to the Cuban beaches."

The Cuban government has initiated various measures including a hotel-building program to welcome more international tourists, amid the intensification of the U.S. embargo.

Jose Luis Perello, a university professor and tourism expert, said that the arrival of tourists from emerging markets such as Russia and China is fundamental for the local tourism industry's future.

"I do not doubt the relevance of emerging markets, which would play a fundamental role in the increase of tourist flow toward Cuba," he said.

Cuba has increased its efforts in promoting its attractions in nature, culture, health and nautical tourism, among others.

In 2022, some 1.7 million foreign tourists came to Cuba, falling short of the 2.5 million the government had projected.

This year, 3.5 million tourists are expected to visit the Caribbean nation, marking a steady recovery towards the pre-pandemic levels of nearly 4 million foreign visitors a year.